Review: Allison Hewitt is Trapped by Madeleine Roux

Title: Allison Hewitt is Trapped
Author: Madeleine Roux
Published: 1st Jan 2011
Publisher: Headline
Series: Zombie #1
Source: Own copy

One woman's story as she blogs - and fights back - the zombie apocalypse

Allison Hewitt and her five colleagues at the Brooks and Peabody Bookstore are trapped together when the zombie outbreak hits. Allison reaches out for help through her blog, writing on her laptop and utilizing the military's emergency wireless network (SNET). It may also be her only chance to reach her mother. But as the reality of their situation sinks in, Allison’s blog becomes a harrowing account of her edge-of-the-seat adventures (with some witty sarcasm thrown in) as she and her companions fight their way through ravenous zombies and sometimes even more dangerous humans. - From Goodreads

This book had been on my want list for months and months. On my last birthday I got this as a present (thanks mum and dad!). I was over the moon and could not wait to start reading. I really enjoy the whole zombie genre and have been a fan of The Walking Dead graphic novels and the TV show, add that to this book is written in the style of a blog and to me it sounded like a winner!

Alison Hewitt is trapped. In the back room of the book shop where she worked with five of her colleagues. The only thing separating her from the zombies roaming outside is the heavy metal door. To stop herself from going insane Allison starts a blog connecting to SNET, an emergency military network. After deciding that there is no chance of surviving as they are the group start scavenging using the shop's security camera as a lookout. Zombies are not the only thing however that you need to look out for.

Alison was a great character and as she was talking to us through the medium of a blog (that she thinks no one was reading to start with) we really got to feel how she and the others were dealing with the situation. For me, I thought Allison was a really strong character and I really liked how she took charge of the situation when it was looking desperate. She starts off quite normal, but with everything she is going through we really see her evolve to be a bit of a badass!!

This was such a well executed idea with each chapter being a blog post. There were also comments from other survivors at the end of the chapter which added to the enjoyment. The whole story had the right level of tension running through it at all times, with some bits being quite mellow and almost relaxed and other parts where I could have put the book down if I wanted to. This book is all about expecting the unexpected, but not veering off into the ridiculous.

I liked this book, but learned very quickly not to get too attached to any of the other characters. Zombies and blogs are the perfect mix, with a little violence thrown in for good measure!! There were a few of the plot points I didn't like so much, but only because of the direction it took the story in and in the situation of "what would I do?" I probably would have done different! All in all however this was a great read and I can't wait to read the next book from Madeleine Roux, Sadie Walker Is Stranded!